On 17th January 2012 international law firm Osborne Clarke welcomed 18 Year 9 students from George Green’s School in Tower Hamlets to its City offices for the launch of an exciting new employability programme.
The primary aim of the initiative is to provide ‘real world’ careers education to a group of Year 9 students from George Green’s in the Isle of Dogs – a school where almost 60% of students receive free school meals and an equal percentage have English as a second language. The programme will engage volunteers from Osborne Clarke in supporting and encouraging students to make the right decisions about their GCSE options and future careers.
Over 20 volunteers representing a range of different roles in the firm – from solicitors to associates, sales managers to partners – came to the launch event to meet the students and listen to the presentations.
Ray Berg, a senior Corporate Partner at Osborne Clarke, explained: ‘We believe it is vitally important that young people from non-traditional backgrounds have the same career opportunities as their peers, and be well informed about their options whilst still at school.’
Having come from a state school background himself, Berg spoke of his passionate and personal commitment to enhancing social mobility and the important role that organisations like Future First play in raising the aspirations of young people. ‘It’s not about encouraging students to pursue a career in law’, Berg went on to say, ‘it’s about making the City accessible and helping them navigate their way through the routes into different professions.’
Following the introductions, Future First, armed with whistle in hand, facilitated a speed networking exercise to break the ice and encourage all the Osborne Clarke volunteers to start talking to the students on a one-to-one level. ‘What famous person do you most admire and why?’ in particular triggered high decibels of chatter and laughter.
The students were asked to share their expectations of the programme and what they most wanted to learn. ‘How can I stand out from the crowd?‘ one student asked, and ‘How can I make the most of all the opportunities out there?’ another remarked.
When asked why George Green’s finds it beneficial to work with firms like Osborne Clarke, Shirley Peterson, Economic Wellbeing Coordinator at the school made it crystal clear, ‘this is the first time a group of Year 9 students have been offered such focused support from a City law firm, which is incredibly valuable and we’re extremely grateful.’
Students were joined by their parents who got as much value from the event as their children. ‘I never had this opportunity when I was at school’ remarked one parent. ‘I would like my child to be prepared with the skills she needs for everyday life’ said another.
Over the coming weeks, volunteers from Osborne Clarke will meet with the students in small groups, supported by Future First, to provide guidance around issues of personal and professional development and what skills they will need to develop to become more employable and pursue the careers of their choice.
The programme marks the second year of Future First’s partnership with Osborne Clarke and George Green’s. The achievements from the first year have already been recognised and shortlisted for an award.
The firm has committed to work with Future First to develop the Year 9 programme over a three year period, supporting the students as they further progress towards their A level options.
Nynke Brett heads up Future First’s Corporate Partnerships arm which supports employers to design and deliver employee engagement programmes with young people. Its partners include Google, PwC, Taylor Wessing, and Rothschild. The programme also provides a school leaver resourcing service, and is currently supporting PwC and Citi to identify and attract exceptional entry level talent from non-traditional backgrounds.
